Celebrating Wales

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 26 February 2021 > Celebrate

1 March is St David’s Day, the Welsh national day. Since Wales is famous for its music and particularly its male voice choirs, what better way to celebrate than with a video of the national anthem sung by modern choir Only Men Aloud? The anthem, “Land of my Fathers” (Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau), was written … Continue reading “Celebrating Wales”

Celebrate Scotland’s Burns Night Online

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 22 January 2021 > Celebrate

Every 25 January, Scots and Scotophiles around the world celebrate Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. And since one of his famous poems is about the national dish, haggis, Burns Suppers are an occasion to taste haggis, recite poetry and enjoy Scottish music. You certainly won’t be able to go to celebrate in Scotland this year, … Continue reading “Celebrate Scotland’s Burns Night Online”

Happy Birthday, MLK!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Saturday 02 January 2021 > Celebrate

The third Monday of January is a federal holiday in the U.S.A., in honour of Martin Luther King. In keeping with King’s philosophy, citizens are encouraged to treat it as a day of service to others by volunteering in their communities. As the slogan says, it is “a day on, not a day off”. Starting … Continue reading “Happy Birthday, MLK!”

Positive Vision

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 06 July 2020 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

The Visionary Honours is a new kind of awards ceremony: one that singles out art, media and entertainment that fosters social change and debate. The awards were created in 2019 by the Visionary Arts Foundation, which helps 16-29-year-olds get a foothold in   the creative industries in the UK, encouraging them in their ambition to  influence … Continue reading “Positive Vision”

Musical Migrations

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 11 June 2020 >

Last year, the Immigration Museum in Paris held an excellent exhibition on the influence of migration from former colonies on the musical culture of the UK and France after decolonisation in the 1960s. Paris-London Musical Migrations fits perfectly with the themes of Shine Bright 1e File 7 Caribbean Vibes and  Shine Bright LLCE File 8 From … Continue reading “Musical Migrations”

Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 27 May 2020 > In the News

Little Richard was one of the pioneers — or as he put it, the architect— of rock ‘n’ roll. He was the flamboyant singer of a string of hits from “Tutti Frutti” to “Good Golly Miss Molly”. Had Richard Penniman been white, he probably would have had a career like Elvis Presley’s. But Little Richard … Continue reading “Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer”

Our Girl Lollipop

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 12 May 2020 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

Millie Small’s global hit song “My Boy Lollipop” was one of most visible manifestations of the influence of Caribbean migrants’ music on the British music scene. The Jamaican singer has died at the age of 73. Small started her music career in Jamaica, before Island Records founder Chris Blackwell became her manager and took her … Continue reading “Our Girl Lollipop”

Feelgood Music 2: “Waterloo Sunset”

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 06 May 2020 > Ready to Use

For the second of our series of feelgood songs, we’ve crossed the Atlantic to the UK, 1967, and The Kinks’ classic “Waterloo Sunset”. Which gives plenty of scope to work on emotions, and London landmarks Waterloo Station and the Thames. Pupils can start by watching a Biobox about the year 1967 in music before going … Continue reading “Feelgood Music 2: “Waterloo Sunset””